Month: November 2008

When I Was King

| Tasha

When I Was King by Linda Ashman, illustrated by David McPhail

A gentle and humorous book on sibling rivalry and how the older sibling once ruled the castle and now no longer does.  A little boy struggles with being replaced as the center of attention, noticing that if he burps or drools he is told it is bad manners but the baby is praised for doing just that.  There are pages of the boy telling his baby brother that all of this was once MINE, which capture the desperation and neediness of a new older sibling perfectly.  Through gentle parenting and insight, the boy slowly grows to understand his new role in the family as big brother.

Ashman’s poetry is a joy to read aloud, offering easy cadences as well as rhyme.  It pairs effortlessly with McPhail’s illustrations which show a modern family but evoke a timeless coziness as well.  The tone set in the book is balanced, even when the boy finally has a temper tantrum about all the things his little brother is ruining.  Both older and younger siblings will see themselves here.

Recommended for story times and units on siblings.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

National Book Award Winner Announced!

| Tasha

Judy Blundell has won the 2008 National Book Award for children’s literature for her novel, What I Saw and How I Lied!  That brings it to the top of my to-be-read pile.  Anyone else already read it?

Skinned

| Tasha

Skinned by Robin Wasserman

Lia had the perfect life, beautiful, popular and rich, she and her friends ruled the school, dictating fashion and status.  When Lia is in a horrible accident, she awakens to find that her memory has been downloaded to a new body, a robotic one.  Lia still looks completely human, but she has to relearn how to do everything.  When she re-enters society, she discovers that her boyfriend is distant and unable to even force himself to do more than touch her, her little sister has taken her place in Lia’s group of friends, and society as a whole is questioning whether she is human or not.  Lia has to learn to live in her new body and new life which is entirely different than the one she lost. 

Wasserman’s writing is enticing and a great deal of fun to read.  She perfectly captures the angst of being a teen and couples it beautifully with the dystopian science fiction setting.  Lia is a great protagonist: complex, often self-absorbed, and completely "human."  It is a treat to find such a complicated character at the center of a teen novel.

Highly recommended for fans of Scott Westerfeld, this book has a fabulous cover that will get it flying off library shelves.  The book is obviously the start to a series, and I look forward to reading more about Lia.  Appropriate for ages 14-16.

Kin

| Tasha

The Good Neighbors: Kin by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

Holly Black, author of amazing urban fairy tales, is now collaborating on a graphic novel series.  Rue’s mother has left, leaving her father deep in despair.  Rue herself has begun seeing strange things that no one else notices.  As she looks deeper into her mother’s history, she learns that what she is seeing is real and that mortals can’t see these strange creatures or fairies that surround them.  Of course, because she can see them, it means that she too isn’t a mortal creature.

Black has always written captivating novels for teens filled with angst, darkness and strange creatures.  In the graphic novel format, she stays true to her previous writings: something that will delight her fans.  Naifeh’s art is a great match to Black’s story.  His use of angular features and interesting perspectives all done in black and white will draw readers in.

Highly recommended for all graphic novel collections, this book will be a hit with fans of Black’s novels as well as fans of Melissa Marr’s popular books.  Teens will look forward to the next in the series.

Hush, Little Dragon

| Tasha

Hush, Little Dragon by Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Kelly Murphy.

Little Dragon is ready for bed high in the treetop, but he’s very hungry.  So his mother flies off to find him a snack.  Set to the same rhyme and rhythm of Hush Little Baby, his mother returns with all sorts of great things for him to munch on, including a princess, knights, a king, and a queen.   By the end, Little Dragon’s tummy is bulging though it isn’t clear exactly what (or who) he has devoured. 

A classic rhyme made into a picture book that children who enjoy knights and dragons will adore.  The book can be sung or simply read aloud.  The illustrations are lusciously colored and will project well to a group of children. 

A definite winner to add to dragon story times, this book begs to be sung.  Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

| Tasha

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury.

Two masters of the picture book come together in this book filled with the joy of babies.  Fox’s gentle rhyme carries the book forward and Oxenbury’s illustrations of babies set on a background of white capture the spirit of the text perfectly.  The babies are shown in all skin colors, all happily playing side-by-side.  The length of the text and the book’s gentle spirit make it the perfect first picture book.  I am hopeful that it will come out as a board book so that it can be placed directly into small hands without fear of tearing.  Watch for my favorite little baby with the runny nose.

The perfect book for baby showers, it should also be shared with new older siblings.  Appropriate for ages 0-2.

Can Anybody Hear Me?

| Tasha

Can Anybody Hear Me? by Jessica Meserve.

Big boisterous, busy and loud families are wonderful, unless you are the quiet one in the crowd.  Even when he talks directly with a family member, Jack isn’t heard.  He asks for one pancake and gets two, asks for a blue sweater and gets red, and no one hears him when he says he is heading off to climb the mountain.  When he gets to the silent, still top of the mountain, he shouts "Can anybody hear me?" at the top of his lungs.  That’s when his teddy bear speaks up and says that he has always heard Jack.  So Jack and his bear, Chester, spend the day playing on the mountain and while they play Jack finds his voice.  It is that voice that gets him rescued from the darkness at the top of the mountain when the day is done.

Meserve has created a charmer of a picture book here filled with mountain style and feel.  Small touches like everyone’s hats, the chicken clucking from under the highchair, and the wall of hay bales capture the rural, rustic setting.   I enjoyed the loving neglect that Jack received.  It set exactly the right tone and will feel true to those who feel neglected in their own families.  The text of the book begs to be read aloud.  It is filled with great noises that will have toddlers and preschoolers clucking, howling and yelling along. 

Recommended for storytimes and preschool classrooms.  This could be a nice introduction to listening, speaking and taking turns doing both.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Janes in Love

| Tasha

Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

This book follows The Plain Janes and continues the celebration of unique teens and the power of art.  Each person is falling in love, though Jane is having problems deciding which boy is right for her.  Each character approaches courtship and romance differently and entirely true to themselves.  And every one of us has a Jane that they can relate to most.  I am definitely the rounded drama kid.

Rugg’s art captures the the story using interesting perspectives.  I particularly enjoyed the art with the dresses in the parking lot.  This second novel builds on the themes of the first, including the power of teens and their right to expression. 

No one can come away from this graphic novel without feeling jazzed up about art, teens and life.  Because we can each see ourselves in one of these teens, we know ourselves a little better too.  Recommended for tweens and teens.  I’d like to see a copy in every school library and public library.

Foundation

| Tasha

Foundation by Mercedes Lackey

Return to Lackey’s vivid world of Valdemar and a new Herald trainee.  Mags was taken as a child to work in gem mines.  He was routinely starved and abused, not realizing that his existence differed from that of other people.  Told that his parents were criminals and he had Bad Blood, Mags never questioned that this life was his due.  All of that changed when Dallen, his Companion, comes for him and carries him away on his broad white back.  The Companions in Valdemar are sentient horses who have certain powers.  Mags’ Gift is Mind Speech, which helps Dallen teach him the niceties of the real world and aid him in slowly adapting to a new life where he is fed, clothed, and taught to be a Herald.  From his life in the mines, Mags brings certain talents and perspectives that will find a unique niche in the emerging world of the Herald’s Collegium.

Lackey’s first Valdemar book in about five years is very teen friendly, despite being published as an adult fantasy novel.  Mags is an intriguing protagonist whose uneducated perspective on the Heralds and his role with them allows readers new to the series a great entry point.  Lackey excels at writing accessible books filled with enough action and intrigue to keep them moving briskly.  Her detailed touches fill her world with life and depth.

This book makes a perfect entry point to the lengthy Valdemar series.  It is the first in a new trilogy within the series and the ending will have readers gasping for more.  Expect demand for the next in the series where this one is enjoyed.  This novel is appropriate for middle school and high school aged students.